NSW Country held their first training session in Tamworth yesterday with a hit out at Oxley High School in preparation for the AAMI City Country clash on Sunday afternoon at Scully Park.
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With many of the local sporting grounds closed due to wet conditions, the young and exciting Country side gave the high school students a glimpse of what they have in their arsenal, and according to former Blues and Kangaroo legend Steve “Blocker” Roach the expected big crowd is in for a treat.
“Country have some great players running off the back of this monster pack,” Roach said.
“You don’t have to be a rocket scientist – they are certainly not going to be finessing themselves to a win.”
The 19 test veteran believes that the City Country game is a fantastic idea that needs to continue despite the calls for the match to be abandoned in the next few years.
“There are 57 000 juniors in the country and we need that to keep growing,” Roach said.
“It is not a chore for these blokes they love getting back to the country and around country people.”
NSW Country skipper James Maloney shared the same sentiment, saying that the country boys are always good to get into camp regardless of who is in the side in any year.
“It is great to get into camp with the country boys,” Maloney said.
“They are all easy going laid back knockabout types who have a good laugh and a bit of fun.”
That will all come to a halt on Sunday when the Cronulla five-eight leads the Country side out on to Scully Park to face their City counterparts.
“I think the game means a lot more to us than the City boys,” Maloney said.
“We have only been together for a few days so will keep it pretty simple.”
The Country engine room will be lead by players like Boyd Cordner, Shannon Boyd, and Tariq Sims, while Maloney will be calling the shots alongside Jack Bird in the halves, with Jarrod Croker, Euan Aitken and Isaah Yeo out wide.
“We have a really strong pack to lay the platform and then exciting players like Jack Bird and Jack Wighton in the backs.”
“We are definitely out there to win.”
The three game match day will kick off at midday with the Country Championships finals in the U16s, which will feature the local Greater Northern side, and U18s, before the main event gets underway at 4.30pm.
Tickets will be available at the gate if not sold out, or are available through Wests Leagues Club in person, on the phone or online.